Book Description

Moose Flannagan moves with his family to Alcatraz so his dad can work as a prison guard and his sister, Natalie, can attend a special school.But Natalie has autism, and when she’s denied admittance to the school, the stark setting of Alcatraz begins to unravel the tenuous coping mechanisms Moose’s family has used for dealing with her disorder.

When Moose meets Piper, the cute daughter of the Warden, he knows right off she’s trouble.But she’s also strangely irresistible. All Moose wants to do is protect Natalie, live up to his parents’ expectations, and stay out of trouble.But on Alcatraz, trouble is never very far away.

Set in 1935, when guards actually lived on Alcatraz Island with theirfamilies, Choldenko’s second novel brings humor to the complexities of family dynamics and illuminates the real struggle of a kid trying to free himself from the "good boy" stance he’s taken his whole life. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

"Al Capone Does My Shirts"
"Al Capone Does My Shirts" is about a 12-year old boy named Moose, whose family moves to Alcatraz in 1934 for his dad's job as a prison guard there. If you don't know, Alcatraz is a maximum-security prison on a rocky island across the bay from San Francisco. Although it is no longer in use, in the 1930's, Alcatraz was prison sweet prison to such notorious gangsters as Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly. You could understand why Moose isn't excatly thrilled to live there. But the other reason they moved is so his sister, Natalie, could go to the Esther P. Marinoff school. Natalie has a disease that is today called autism, but was unidentified in the 30's. Moose, wanting his sister to be "normal", agrees to move for her sake. Still, he isn't happy about living on what he calls "a 12-acre rock covered with cement, topped with bird turds and surrounded by water". But the other families that live on Alcatraz might change his mind.
This book is both funny and sad, and Moose is very easy to relate to. Other very dynamic characters make "Al Capone Does My Shirts" interesting. You'll finish it quickly and wish it were longer.

Every 10-12 year old should read this book
My 10 year old daughter read this book in just over 2 days! She could not put it down!!! After reading Choldenko's "Notes from a Liar and her Dog" she could not wait for this to be published. We are buying them as gifts for many summer birthdays. I am now reading it and am thrown right back into my childhood of many years ago. Well written (as was the first), gets right into a 10-12 year olds way of thinking. Children between these ages will be able to totally relate. We can't wait for next one!

a sensational read
Twelve-year-old Moose Flannagan doesn't know how to feel about his new home. Sure, it's neat to live right in San Francisco Bay, but the neighbors leave something to be desired. You see, Moose and his family live on Alcatraz Island, where Moose's father has a new job as electrician and prison guard. At school on the mainland, Moose is a bit of a misfit. Not only do the other guys think living on Alcatraz is a little weird, they also don't understand why Moose can't stay after school to play baseball.

Instead, Moose has to head home to watch his sister Natalie. Natalie has autism, a condition that had not even been identified in 1935, when this novel is set. No one is quite sure how to deal with Natalie. Most "experts" tell the Flannagans to put her in an institution, but the family would rather try a variety of experimental therapies, which yield mostly disappointing results. Moose is the only one who can really reach Natalie, and he constantly clashes with his mother about the best way to work with her.

Moose and Natalie discover a new kind of community among the several families who live on Alcatraz Island, including bossy seven-year-old Theresa and the warden's manipulative, sneaky (but also kind of cute) daughter Piper. In the end, the kids cooperate --- with a little help from Al Capone himself --- to find a place where Natalie can finally belong.

Believe it or not, this novel's unusual setting is based on fact --- the families of Alcatraz prison guards actually did live on the island. The author includes a helpful note explaining the historical facts behind the story, as well as a brief note about autism.

What really makes this a winning novel, though, is not the setting but its main character. Moose, who narrates the story, is responsible and trustworthy in spite of himself. The love he feels for his sister despite the frustrations she causes him shines through all his words. The relationships among Moose, his hardworking father and his well-meaning mother are also rich and dynamic. Even without its connection to the famous mobster, AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS would still be a real hit.

(...)

You and Your Students/Children Should Read This!
This is a beautiful story that mixes all the elements of great fiction. Historical setting and characters, emotional involvment with genuine characters, laugh-out-loud humor, and a fresh writing style combine to form a unique and sensitive story. Highly reccomended for anyone interested in Alcatraz, Autistic children, or anyone looking for well-done modern kids lit piece. Also reccomended: Notes From a Liar and Her Dog(same author).

A fascinating read.
This novel worked for me on many levels. First, it was a gripping, fast-paced character study of a teenage boy. The author developed a sympathetic, interesting, flawed character. I kept turning the pages to see what would happen to him and how he would respond.

Second, the book was quite poignant in showing what it was like to live with an autistic child, especially in an era when autism hadn't been diagnosed and no one was sure how or if it could be treated.

Third, the setting was so interesting. It takes place on Alcatraz island when prison workers and their families lived there. I learned a lot, but I didn't feel like I was being instructed as I read.

I highly reccommend this novel. ... Read more

Book Description

Some mornings, Annie's mother's smiles are as bright as sunshine as she makes pancakes for breakfast and helps Annie get ready for school.

But other days, her mother doesn't smile at all and gets very angry. Those days Annie has to be a big girl and make her own breakfast, and even put herself to bed at night. But Annie's grandma helps her remember what to do when her mommy isn't well, and her silly friends are there to cheer her up. And no matter what, Annie knows that even when Mommy is angry on the outside, on the inside she never stops loving her. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

EXCELLENT BOOK - HAS HELPED MY CHILD
I'm a person who has BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) and my house is chaotic -- screaming, shouting, but then there are times when I'm the good mom I want to be. My child and I read this book together just because we grabbed it from the library with a stack of other books. After reading the book, I very much recognized myself and my child in it and began to question her about it. I asked if the mommy in the book reminded her of anyone and she said it reminded her of me. I put the book in a stack of books to be returned to the library, but my daughter retrieved it and took it back to her room and re-reads it constantly, so I've decided to purchase it for her. She's 7 years old and says the books makes her feel better when I'm not in control of my anger. I would recommend this book to any parent who is suffering from Personality Disorder or any other mental illness that causes moodiness and displays of anger. Your children deserve this book as much as they deserve your going to therapy for treatment, which I myself am doing. ... Read more

Book Description

What IS Cancer, Anyway? Explaining Cancer to Children of All Ages is one of the books in the Barklay and Eve Children's Book Series. This book provides basic information that is essential when someone in the family has cancer and does so in a calm, clear, reassuring manner that children and adults will appreciate. Barklay and Eve, the two lovable main characters, define cancer, explain radiation and chemotherapy (including the reasons why some people loose their hair). This is a hopeful story which has a fun connect-the -dots page of the American Cancer Sociey's symbol of hope. THIS BOOK IS ENDORSED BY HURRICANE VOICES, A BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Keeping it simple
How do you go about explaining something to your children that you have difficulty understanding yourself? Well Barklay and Eve make the process easier. This wonderful book describes the most complicated procedures in simple terms without talking down to children. I found the illustrations and story content charming and informative. Children will find the common hair loss of cancer a much less frightening process when they see the fun that Eve has with a wig. While dealing with cancer can't be made easier, Barklay and Eve can make explaining it easier. ... Read more

Book Description

From New York Times bestselling author Maria Shriver comes a poignant and compassionate story about one family coping with Alzheimer's disease and memory loss. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

ANOTHER GREAT RESOURCE ABOUT ALZHEIMER'S FOR CHILDREN
Contrary to popular belief, Ms. Shriver's book wasn't actually the first book that was geared toward children in an attempt to help them have a better understanding about Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Ann Frantti wrote a book entitled "Grandma's Cobwebs" several years ago on this same topic. Not only does her book explain the workings of this dreadful disease, it also has a supplementary booklet that has FAQs to help parents with any questions their children may have.

Unfortunately, Dr. Frantti doesn't have the benefit of Ms. Shriver's "star power" in terms of getting publicity about "Grandma's Cobwebs," but her book is excellent.

Excellent For Children -1st Lady Shriver WINS!!!
Well written with warmth, Maria Shriver does an excellent job of helping grandchildren understand-what even some adults may not fully know- about the battlefield of the aged minds.
The Knowledge we as Authors share, produces a well informed future generation.

Lovely Resource
It is hard enough for an adult to understand what it all means when a loved one is stricken with Alzheimer's, let alone a child. Maria has done a marvelous job of explaining it all in terms that will help your children, as well as yourself, understand, accept and cope with one of the hardest times a family can face.
Jacqueline Marcell, Edlercare Advocate, and author of Elder Rage.

very helpful
It is good to have a book to read to children that will help them cope with a grandparent with Altzheimer's! I especially liked the expression of the many feelings that the book characters had. It made talking about feelings that we have easier. I think we will be reading this from time to time to keep in touch with each other through the process of this disease and how it relates to our family. Thank you for carrying it. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

It was O.K........
I didn't really enjoy this Junie B., First Grader book as much as the other ones. I read the book to my little sister, and she thought that Columbus REALLY did swim to America. Junie B said it herself: YOU CAN'T CHANGE HISTORY! Yet Columbus didn't swim to the U.S., but the Junie B's class "changed history". I'm twelve and it confused me why Junie B took the blame, and seemed to make herself look good to do that and wanted people to thank her from taking the blame to make her look good. She is such a show-off, and Renée (my little sister)got mixed-up and thought the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria really did shipwreck. And she didn't get Junie B's grammer/speech.

I'm an old lady and I laughed and laughed and laughed
I adore Junie B. and this was one of the best books in the series.

I loved the two plot lines intertwining neatly at the end and, frankly, I laughed out loud through the whole thing. I wasn't even reading to my kids.

Every Junie B. book is fresh, never formulaic. Her grammar is better as a first grader, but she's just as funny. I'm looking forward to the next volume coming soon.

A good theme
This story seemed to have a twist to it. I didn't expect for Junie B.'s class to have a shipwreck. I thought the title meant they were stuck, and felt trapped since so many kids were sick. And THAT was the shipwreck. I liked the little twist. When I read the first 2 chapters I thought: "Hey! When's this whole play deal come in???" I sort of wondered why there was no play yet. I didn't like how Junie B. wanted to be the star. Life isn't about being the star. I did like how the book added facts about Columbus's journey to America. Kids can get confused, thinking it was the Mayflower that came before the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María. AT LAST!!! A Junie B. Jones book that actually is a bit educational!!! It was a good book, except that Junie wanted to be star. (...)

Verry funny for a first grader
VERRY FUNNY! I have to admit I didnt like when May was
bragging about being the santa maria in the play or when
Roger threw up. YUCK! Well it had a happy ending.

P.S. I think a mouse play is the way to go too. HA!

A good lesson...
I'm 10, and I love Junie B. Jones. She's really goofy. I liked this story because it shows kids how easy it is to become sick. Junie B. isn't as funny in 1st grade, but I still LOVE her. The Junie B., First Grader stories seem to be different. They have a bigger problem or plot, unlike in kindergarten. This one has a lesson to it. And it shows that even though things can be bad, but then get better, problems and "shipwrecks" can happen. Then, you gotta think fast to help fix them, or disaster can strike. What was confusing about the book was that it just ended. Just ended. It never said what the class thought about Junie B.'s "I'm Sorry" note. I don't know if they forgave her or not. I wish it did. It would make it longer. Plus, I got a bit annoyed at her when she wanted to be the STAR. Being the star doesn't mean you'll be famous or the center of attention. That's what I hate about Junie B. Overall, it's a recomended book. ... Read more

Book Description

You couldn't really tell about Mama's brain just from looking at her, but it was obvious as soon as she spoke. She had a high voice, like a little girl's, and she only knew twenty-three words. I know this for a fact, because we kept a list of the things Mama said tacked to the inside of the kitchen cabinet. Most of the words were common ones, like good and more and hot, but there was one word only my mother said, soof.

Although she lives an unconventional lifestyle with her mentally disabled mother and their doting neighbor, Bernadette, Heidi has a lucky streak that has a way of pointing her in the right direction. When a mysterious word in her mother's vocabulary begins to haunt her, Heidi's thirst for the truth leads her on a cross-country journey in search of the secrets of her past.

A dramatic tour de force by the best-selling author of Regular Guy.

Reviews (4)

SO B. IT is a great read.
Heidi knows her mom loves her. But because of her mother's mental disability, she is unable to care for herself or her daughter. Their loving neighbor, Bernadette, helps out and is a vital part of their family. Bernadette finally manages to teach Mama how to open cans, but tying shoes is beyond her capabilities. Mama can't read or tell time. She knows 23 words. One of Mama's words, "soof," is a mystery --- no one knows what it means, and Mama is unable to define it.

Heidi lives in Reno and so is able to wield her incredibly reliable lucky streak at the laundromat slot machine when her babysitting money doesn't quite cover their needs. How did Heidi and her mom end up in Reno, living in the apartment next to Bernadette? Bernadette tells Heidi about their mysterious appearance at her door when Heidi was just one week old. Heidi's mother was able to tell Bernadette that her baby's name was Heidi. When asked for her own name, Mama says, "So be it." Since Bernadette believes everyone should have a middle name (or at least an initial), she dubs Mama "So B. It." Heidi is known as "Heidi It."

The truth about her mother's identity eats away at Heidi. She simply cannot rest until she pieces together Mama's past through clues that appear over the years. Why is her mother terrified of buses? Why do rainy days make her anxious? When Heidi finds some old photos of her mother at a Christmas party held at Hilltop Home in Liberty, New York, she decides she must travel there alone in order to discover who her mother truly is. The trip is a frightening yet exciting adventure for determined, courageous Heidi.

SO B. IT is a great read. The mystery is intriguing; the characters are quirky yet believable. If you're a sucker for a quest story with heart, the way I am, I predict you'll be "So Into It!"

(...)

RichiesPicks.com: SO B. IT
"I know you're out there somewhere
Somewhere, somewhere
I know I'll find you somehow
And somehow I'll return again to you"
--The Moody Blues

"If truth was a crayon and it was up to me to put a wrapper around it and name its color, I know just what I would call it--dinosaur skin. I used to think, without really thinking about it, that I knew what color that was. But that was a long time ago, before I knew what I know now about both dinosaur skin and the truth."

The truth about her mother's background and past is as totally unknown to Heidi as is the true color of dinosaur skin. That is due to the fact that there are a grand total of twenty-three words, sounds, or short phrases that her mother is capable of articulating.

"One thing I knew for a fact, from the time I knew anything at all, was that I didn't have a father. What I had was Mama and Bernadette, and as far as I was concerned, that was plenty. Bernadette started off being the next-door neighbor, but that didn't last very long. My mother loved me in her own special way, but she couldn't take care of me herself because of her bum brain. Bernie once explained it to me by comparing Mama to a broken machine.
" 'All the basic parts are there, Heidi, and from the outside she looks like she should work just fine, but inside there are lots of mysterious little pieces busted or bent or missing altogether, and without them her machine doesn't run quite right.'
"And it never would."

"Now the time has come to speak
I was not able
And water through a rusted pipe
Could make the sense that I do"
--Suzanne Vega "Rusted Pipe"

When Heidi's mother appeared on Bernadette's doorstep in Reno twelve years earlier with baby Heidi in her arms, Bernie's repeated questioning of who they were elicited the same response again and again from the mother: "So be it" and "Heidi." Thus, they became So B. It and Heidi It. Bernadette, who has since been raising and homeschooling Heidi while caring for Heidi's mother, has her own incapacitating disability--she's plagued by a phobia that prevents her from ever leaving the pair of attached apartments that the trio share. Meanwhile, Heidi has her own unusual quality--a gift that falls into the realm of magic.

But it will take more than just magic to uncover the truth of her mother's origins. While most of those twenty-three words are common ones, there is one--soof--that is uniquely Heidi's mom's.

"[O]nly Mama knew what it meant. And she wasn't telling.
" 'What is soof, Mama?' I'd whisper as I sat on the edge of her bed at night gently scratching her back. I hoped it might slip out of her mouth and onto her pillowcase as she closed her eyes and relaxed into the rhythm of my scratching.
"Sometimes I'd sit down next to her on the couch, open up a magazine, and flip through the pictures, pointing at things--a baby, a dog, a car.
" 'Show me soof, Mama. Is this soof? Is this?'
"Mama would smile her sweet, wide smile and pat my knee the way she always did when I sat close to her.
" 'Tea, Heidi?' she'd say. 'Tea?' "

When vital clues to the mystery of her mother's past appear, Heidi embarks upon a lone cross-country trip to search for that elusive truth.

"I'd be lying if I said that given a choice, I wouldn't rather know than not know. But there are some things you can just know for no good reason other than that you do, and then there are other things that no matter how badly you want to know them, you just can't.
"The truth is, whether you know something or not doesn't change what was. If dinosaurs were blue, they were blue, if they were brown, they were brown whether anybody ever knows it for a fact or not."

In the manner of some great award-winning stories of previous years in which young characters journey to discover who they are, Heidi's solitary quest touched my heart and made me just want to hug this wonderful young woman.

(And that's the truth.)

Richie Partington

impossible but plausible
The opening question is about the color of truth. Come back and read these first two pages again after finishing the book. The author posits that truth is the color of dinosaur skin and that we don't know what color dinosaur skin is even though it is usually pictured as green.

All through the book 'Dette is reasoning with Heidi that truth may not be ascertainable, while Heidi in her adolescent intensity plows through seemingly insurmountable odds to perservere and find the truth. The author combines mystery, character, and discovery in a "can't put it down" read.

Soof...
Although this theme has been covered in many books, I thought Sarah Weeks produced a work that was original, intriguing, funny, sad, and satisfying. Although prehaps unrealistic in places, it is rings truer than many books in other places as Heidi learns to see past mental defficiencies, lies, smiles, and fear to the people and the love underneath. My only criticism would be that it ends too quickly and hodgepodgedly, but otherwise, this book was a good read. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Too simple, no substance
I was disappointed and am reconsidering ever buying books online again! You can't really see what you are getting, and this is just too simple to be useful.

Doctor Maisy
If your child loves Maisy books as much as mine does, definitely add this one to your collection! Not only are the pictures colorful and inviting, but it also makes going to the doctor seem fun and exciting! Plus, it's always great to see Maisy and her friends playing different roles and doing fun things! Each page brings delight to my child's eyes! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Following up their bestseller How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?, Caldecott Medal winner Jane Yolen and illustrator Mark Teague have penned this instructive lesson on dinosaur health care. Eachdouble-page spread features one enormous dinosaur looking wan and sniffly but mostly cranky, petulant, ornery, sullen, and disagreeable. The human moms and dads are visibly worried and/or frustrated by their sick dinos behaving badly. Witness the nice lady dragging her gigantic Styracosaurus out of the elevator and across the hall to the doctor's office: "What if a dinosaur goes to the doc? Does he drag all his feet till his mom is in shock?" The look on this mom's face will be familiar to anyone who's ever forcibly moved a child, who seems to have suddenly gained a million pounds, from one place to another. And of course, it turns out that dinosaurs don't misbehave when they're sick: "He drinks lots of juice, and he gets lots of rest. He's good at the doctor's, 'cause doctors know best."

The rhymes are somewhat forced, especially toward the end of the book, but Teague's marvelous paintings are bright and expressive throughout. Each dinosaur is cleverly labeled, and these aren't yourrun-of-the-mill dinos; dinosaur-obsessed little ones will crow over Parasaurolophus, Euoplocephalus, and Tuojiangosaurus. They'll also learn a little something about how to behave when they're sick. --Jennifer Lindsay ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Mom of 2 in TX
I bought this book for my son (who is 4). We already have its predecessor "How Do Dinosaurs Go to Bed". They teach great lessons about how to behave at bedtime and the doctors office. Both are bedtime favorites - he even loves to look at the dinosaurs on the inside covers! Anything Mark Teague does is beautiful work and I recommend his books highly. Jane Yolen makes this book very easy to read, my son knows both dinosaur books by heart. Beautiful book, a must for childs book collection!

Great Book for 4-6 Year Olds
I purchased this book for my five year old nephew who is a BIG Dinosaur fan. I previously purchased for him "How do Dinosaurs Say Good Night" Both were Big Hits. Large print and very few words on a page and easy vocabulary to help the youngsters learn to read. Also helps the children realize that everyone, even Dinosaurs, get sick once in a while.

A bt of a disappointment...
My daughter likes dinosaurs a lot, and we loved the first "How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?" However, this sequel does not compare in originality and wittiness. The illustrations are good, similar to those in the first book, but that's about it (a repeat). The first book was fun, funny, and more than anything VERY original in its approach. Plus, most kids can relate to the attitudes portrayed in the first book, while this one is mostly for conventional families that go to conventional doctors and use conventional medicine (as if that was the only way to get well). Not us, and not so many families I know... I sincerely hope the authors are not planning any more sequels like this one (a collection of subtle "how to behave" manuals for kids), and keep in mind that their readers are young kids --keep their books FUN!

Mom of Dinosaur lover
These books are great! My 5 year old daughter is a dinosaur fanatic and received "How Do Dinosaurs say Goodnight" as a gift. She loved it and when we found out there was another, we knew we had to have it. The rhymes are easy for her to remember and recite. And they teach great lessons that help her see a better way to resolve some problems with going to bed and going to the doctor. I only wish there were more....

Mrs. Larson's 1st Grade Class
We liked this book a lot! We liked that it had a rhyming pattern. We liked the illustrator. He uses really bright colors. His pictures made us laugh. He hides the names of the dinosaurs in the pictures. WE had to use our eagle eyes to find them. It was a very good book. ... Read more

Book Description

When Felix's parents take him to "The Divide"--a spot in Costa Rica where the waters that run down to the Pacific and Atlantic oceans separate--Felix finds himself in a bizarre parallel world where mythical creatures and magic are a reality. There, he meets Betony, a tangle child and herbalist who becomes hisfriend in this strange land. As Felix explores this new world he soon discovers that its mythical beasts and fairy folk think Felix is a legendary creature who uses practical science instead of magic! Will Felix ever find his way back home...and will he want to? ... Read more

Reviews (16)

The Divide
I am a 5th grade teacher always on the look out for a new book to read to my students. I came across "The Divide" and bought it as much for its interesting cover design as the potentially interesting content. What a great choice! Thankfully I started reading it after school was out for the summer - I couldn't put it down - I could hardly wait to see what happened next. True the characters were not as developed as they could have been, but for those of us that are transported to other worlds when we read, you will still feel like you too have been transported to this land where mythical creatures are real and we humans are considered the myths. A fun and entertaining read.

The Divide
The divide is the best book i ever read. The divide keeps you always wanting to read more. The divide is about a boy named felix, that has a heart disease that threatens his life. Felix falls in to a mythtical world where humans are a legend,and mythitcal beings become real. You should read this awsome book.

definitly should be on your list
This book was truly amazing. It had all of the right elements and the story was so creative. I had a hard time putting it down and am on the edge of my seat waiting for the sequel.The characters were charming and funny and the whole book was full of fun. If youre looking for a good read this book is a yes!

A wonderful Book
I thought this book was truely amazing. It captured you so quickly, and once you finished, you never wanted to put it down. My one complaint though, was that you didn't get to connect with the character enough. You felt sorry for Felix and everything, but you didn't really get to KNOW him. You could have connected a lot more with him, and the book could have been a lot more sentimental at the end had it been like that. It was still excellent, and a very enchanting read. The end fell together nicely, and I loved how it left room for a sequel. I will definatly be one of the first to read it! (oh, I don't know if you guys thought this, but in the middle of the book, Felix was thinking about how Betony was beautiful, and how towards the end Betony kept on saying how worried she was about him. I thought this was going to lead to something, but maybe that was just me.)

division
13 year old Felix is a human that has a heart condition that can take his life for good. On his vacation in costa rica where the famous divide line of the two oceans the Atlantic and the Pacific. Felix accidentally stumbles into a strange mystical world that humans are legend but myths are actually real. In a twisted world of a parralel universe, felix is now on a journey to find a cure and get back home. It seems felix is on an adventure that may be too hard on his heart. With two creatures named Betony and Ironclaw set of to find Felix's cure and a way to get home. ... Read more

Book Description

While Ashley and her friends try to raise money for her liver transplant operation, she learns about the transplant and recovery process, including the knowledge that someone will die to provide the organ necessary for her to live.This children's book is lavishly told with 4-color drawings and includes a comprehensive glossary. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A great story about a child waiting for a liver.
I am not ready to read this book to my three year old daughter just yet. But she has the same disease as the child in the book and will eventually need a liver transplant someday. I am confident that this will help my child understand what she is going to face. The book is very forth right in its discussion of where the donor liver comes from and that is a very hard thing to have to tell a child... This will make it easier for me and I hope for my daughter too.

Wonderful Book!
As the parent of a 4 year old who is awaiting a liver transplant I would like to say a big thanks to the author for writing this book.My son loves it and I have read it to him several times since receiving it 3 days ago.His favorite page is when Dr. Tanner tells Ashley she can go home.I think it is very important that it shows Ashley all better and life after a transplant.Thanks again!
Peggy Sams ... Read more

Book Description

Twenty-five fictional stories that will entertain, enlighten, and ease a child's frustration about having diabetes.

Reviews (1)

Even older kids still need our help
This book is aimed at ages 8-13 or so. We read this book to our six-year-old son. If not for that, I don't know if I would have ever read it.

All the main characters in the stories have type 1 diabetes. The characters encounter different situations where they have to learn to control their diabetes or ASK FOR HELP.

I recommend that parents read this book. What struck me the most, was how many stories are about kids that "can" do their own care but still want/need their parent's help. Many of the kids in the stories stopped taking care of themselves until the climax of the plot when they finally admitted to their parents they needed help.

If you order this book for your child, read it. At the least, discuss the stories with him or her. We discussed each story with our son and I was amazed at how much he related to the kids in the stories already.

The stories were written before lantus and the insulin pump so my son did have trouble understanding why the kid wasn't allowed a cupcake or such. He doesn't remember being on NPH and regular. Diabetes care has come far! It would be useful if the author would update the book to include the new treatments.

I am giving it four stars, not five because the stories were not the best I've ever read. But this is a valuable book. ... Read more

Book Description

In her first novel, Kissing Doorknobs,Terry Spencer Hesser has written an inspiring, often humorous novel about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, a topic that merits discussion and compassion.

Fourteen-year-old Tara Sullivan has always been a worrier.On the surface, she has been able to behave like a normal girl.But when she is 11 years old, she hears a phrase that changes her life: Step on a crack, break your mother's back.Now, everywhere she goes, Tara must count every crack in the sidewalk.If she gets interrupted or loses her place, she has to go home and start all over again.As she gets older, her "habits" don't get better--they change and increase.She has to arrange her meals, recite prayers, and chat with her dolls, over and over again.

Tara does not know why she has these habits, she just knows that she has no choice: she has to complete the rituals.Then one day, before leaving the house, she finds herself kissing her fingertips and touching the doorknob . . . .

Terry Spencer Hesser is a screenwriter and a documentary filmmaker. Kissing Doorknobs is based on her personal experience with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. ... Read more

Reviews (68)

This was an AWESOME book!!!
Terry Spencer Hesser is an awesome author and she really knows how to make situations real. She made the novel "Kissing Doorknobs" a intresting story- also heartwarming. This book is about a girl named Tara facing OCD. Eveyone around Tara is falling apart because of her strange rituals-even her own family. Every time her mother swears she always prays and her mother hates it. Throughout the book Tara goes through many changes in her OCD.Such rituals include touching the doorknob and kissing her hand, countin cracks in the sidewalk and walking over every crack, having hideous thoughts that her mother or father were dead in a ditch somewhere. Whenever someone would make fun of Tara her little sister Greta would go beat them up for her. Greta got suspended about three time throughout the book.Tara has a bunch of friends. One of her friends is a evil person. Donna her friend smokes and shoplifts. Tara once tried to shoplift but she turned herself in. Towards the end of the book she meets a boy who has OCD too. She never knew anyone else had the same thing she had. Sam (the boy with OCD) introduces Tara to a therapist for OCD. Tara goes to therapy and stops her rituals. Sometimes she can't help but to them but other times she can stop herself. I think people of all ages should read this book because its has good facts in it. This novel also presents another exellent idea. You should never treat a person with OCD any different from another person. Tara's friends only treat Tara different when Tara was freaking out. If you want a good book to read go to your library and check out "Kissing Doorknobs" I guarentee that you won't want to put it down once you pick it up.

Kissing Doorknobs-Review
Kissing Doorknobs by Terry Spencer Hesser is an exhilarating novel. It shows you the life and world of a young girl with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Hesser incorporates two worlds in her book. The world Tara experiences as she is tormented by her unstoppable "quirks" and the world that the public sees, while watching, questioning, and treating Tara like an outcast. Tara's disorder in a way "forces" her to do things, such as counting cracks on a sidewalk, sometimes repeatedly. Throughout the book and throughout Tara's life, Tara starts to lose the relationships she once had with her family and friends before OCD. Kissing Doorknobs also describes the trials and tribulations involved in the fight to "depart" from OCD.
This book is a well-written novel with an easy to follow plot that keeps the reader attached. Hesser uses many of her experiences in the award-winning novel thus making, Kissing Doorknobs a realistic portrayal. Kissing Doorknobs by Terry S. Hesser is a must read, it can help you understand why people like Tara have these problems and that with determination they can overcome them.

Wish there were more.....
When I first saw this book I couldn't wait to read it until I realized it wasn't a true account. I wish there were more true accounts of OCD sufferers. I enjoyed the book, but did find at times it got a little stale and repetitive.

A Truly Touching Book
In the novel, Kissing Doorknobs, by Terry Spencer Hesser, a young girl becomes obsessed with the phrase "step on a crack and you'll break your mother's back". This phrase is the start of Tara's obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD. The phrase echoes in her mind every second until, in order to be normal in her own mind and to protect her mother, she must count the cracks in the sidewalk to and from school.
Life soon becomes a nightmare for her. To alleviate her fear and worry, she must count everything, from Kate Moss's eyelashes to window slats, rearrange her food so it is neat, and make sure that everything is balanced. For example, if she tapped her right foot, she would then have to tap her left foot. On the way to school she counts cracks and cannot be interrupted or else she must start again and vent her growing panic and frustration on the interrupter, even if it is one of her best friends. Soon this and her other odd habits, such as praying for people if they curse or do something wrong and her hours of confession, causes stress on her parent's relationship and the people she interacts with, straining friendships. In an effort to cure her daughter of these odd quirks, yet not knowing it is OCD, her mother tries to make her associate these habits with pain to help her daughter get over these rituals that dominate her life, her grades, and her happiness.
This novel combines humor with a serious disorder and a girl's struggle to overcome a disease that has taken control of her mind and her life. As she proceeds from her original state of counting cracks, people begin to make fun of her and even in her aloneness, her sister, Greta, defends her in an act of pure love without regard to the consequences. Tara thinks that she is absolutely going crazy until she meets Sam, a boy who is OCD about germs. Through therapy he has gotten his life back and it is then that Tara realizes that she is not alone and she can overcome this as well.
I would highly recommend this novel; it makes the reader aware that everyone is human and has thoughts and feelings. This book shows us not to judge others and includes lessons about life. This is the first book that I have read in a long time that actually makes you sympathize with the character and connects you to her life even if you are not OCD.
Read this book and let it teach you about the issues of a complicated disease from the eyes of the one who is suffering. The part of this novel that makes it outstanding is the time spent researching this disorder and making sure that Tara's feelings were accurate. Hesser truly gets you to relate to the character's feelings of distress and loneliness. This book will open your eyes to see that no matter how impossible life seems at times, there will always be a rainbow at the end of the storm.

Kissing Doorknobs
Kissing Dorknobs is the story of a young girl growing up with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Like many children with OCD, the narrator's symptoms develop and change over time. When Tara enters kindergarten, she acts like most five-year-olds, except that within her she hides unusual fears that cause her great anxiety. Slowly her fears become apparent to those around her. During fire drills she cries, fearing that she will die without her family. Even with the constant assurance and support of her friends and family, Tara's fears and obsessions grow. On the surface, she has been able to behave like a normal girl. But when she is 11 years old, she hears a phrase that changes her life: Step on a crack, break your mother's back. Now, everywhere she goes, Tara must count every crack in the sidewalk. If she gets interrupted or loses her place, she has to go home and start all over again. As she gets older, her "habits" don't get better--they change and increase. She has to arrange her meals, recite prayers, and chat with her dolls, over and over again. Tara also begins to pray any time anyone uses profane language in an effort to keep them from going to hell. The harder Tara tries to control her thoughts, the worse they get. Eventually Tara develops a habit in which she touches the doorknob and kisses her hand thirty-three times every time she goes in or out the door. They are a source of bafflement to herself, her friends and parents and become profoundly disruptive to her personal and school life. Tara does not understand what is happening to her and is ashamed and fearful that she is "crazy". She becomes secretive and tries to hide her rituals from others. Similarly, her parents worry that Tara is indeed crazy and make every attempt to prevent her from engaging in her rituals. This results in an escalating sequence of family arguments and occasional physical violence between Tara and her mother. Visits to several psychiatrists result in little or no benefit and Tara accumulates an assortment of "diagnoses." Finally, a teacher recognizes that Tara has symptoms similar to those of a student with OCD. Tara is introduced to the boy in question and to his therapist who prescribes exposure and response prevention, a form of behavior therapy. The story ends on a hopeful note for Tara who begins therapy and learns to take control of the "tyrants" in her head. But Tara's friend is simultaneously in the midst of a relapse, highlighting the ongoing battle that most individuals must wage against this illness. Since the author has suffered from OCD herself, the book includes a lot of factual information. It not only portrays the effect of the disease on Tara, but also on her family and friends. The author includes other issues (anorexia, pregnancy, and alcoholism) that affect Tara's friends. This gives the reader a needed break and shows that everyone has their own demons to battle. ... Read more

Book Description

A girl's struggle amid the African AIDS pandemic.

"As soon as I get back from the shabeen, I go next door to see Mrs. Tafa. I have to ask to use her phone to let our relatives know about Sara. I'm nervous. Mrs. Tafa would like to run the world. Since she can't run the world she's decided to run our neighborhood."

So speaks sixteen-year-old Chanda, an astonishingly perceptive girl living in the small city of Bonang, a fictional city in Southern Africa.

While Mrs. Tafa's hijinks are often amusing, the fact is that Chanda's world is profoundly difficult. When her youngest sister dies, the first hint of HIV/AIDS emerges.

In this sensitive, swiftly-paced story readers will find echoes of To Kill a Mockingbird as Chanda must confront undercurrents of shame and stigma. Not afraid to explore the horrific realities of AIDS, Chanda's Secrets also captures the enduring strength of loyalty, friendship and family ties. Above all, it is a story about the corrosive nature of secrets and the healing power of truth.

Through the artful style of acclaimed author Stratton, the determination and resilience Chanda embodies will live on in readers' minds. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Extremely Powerful
Sixteen-year-old Chanda Kabelo is a true hero. She puts her family and friendship first above herself and what the "neighbors" think. Allan Stratton's story of Chanda's family and community draws a vivid picture of what the AID's epidemic is doing to Africa. Extremely powerful, don't miss it! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Leslie Hiller's world is growing smaller. It used to be large enough to include her worrisome but loving mother, her doting father, her close friend Cavette, and all the other people and places that made up her upper-class, A+ life. But now it has shrunk to the size of a dinner plate full of food--which she scrapes out her bedroom window to avoid eating. Leslie, a perfectionist who loves to be in control, finds she can't control the fear that she will somehow fail to be the perfect daughter, perfect student, and perfect friend. So she decides to master the one thing over which she is certain she has complete domain: food. Even when it becomes apparent to everyone that her severe dieting has become a life-threatening habit, Leslie still can't stop: "I want to be happy. And being happy means being thin."

Author Deborah Hautzig, who recounts her own painful battle with anorexia in a very personal and heartfelt afterword, gives Leslie a frighteningly realistic voice that will ring true to teens everywhere. First published in 1981, Second Star to the Right has risen again to give a new generation of young adults valuable insight into the addictive world of anorexia, and hope for getting out from under the cruel thumb of the disease. (Ages 12 to 15) --Jennifer Hubert ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Excellent portrayal of this disease
I too suffer from Anorexia. Leslie and I could be the same person. It was great to read a book about eating disorders that didn't focus on the PHYSICAL aspects of the disease, but on the person suffering and what their life is like. I spent a month in a hospital this summer. My guess is that I'll be back in the same program fairly soon. Leslie's conflict between recovery and the disease is one which I fight every day. Finally, there's a book that describes accurately how someone with and eating disorder feels!

I could completely relate with this tale of anorexia!
I, too, suffer from life-threatening anorexia nervosa. Even at my present weight of 58 pounds, thin enough can never be achieved. This past year has been extremely rough, in and out of hospitals and treatment. Just when I felt hopeless, my friend contacted me with a pile of literature on anorexia, and this book was a breath of fresh air. This disease that is killing me, the monster of anorexia, and as I read about Leslie being in the hospital, torned between recovery and falling deeper into the hands of the illness, I was crying, because it was almost as if I was reading about ME. Leslie and I are so much alike-perfectionists, kind, sincere, always wanting to be the best. This book couldnt tell it all better-please read it! please! this is a wake-up call and should not be ignored!

One of the best books ive read in a long time
I loved tihs book sooooooo much. I picked it up at the library and couldnt put it down. I could realate to the main character(leslie) and i just felt so grateful to read about someone who saw things almost the exact same way i did. Anyway, if you have ever struggled with an eating disorder i definatly recommend this book for you will be able to relate and be spell-bound by it. I hope that anyone who has been debating with themeselves over whether to read this or not will defianatly pick up the book and give it a chance. Even if you have never struggled with an eating disorder, it will allow you to get a brief glimpse into the mind of an anorexic and see that people dont choose to get like that. Anyway, i sincerly hope you pick this book up and enjoy it as much as i did.

A Must
Little things had stuck with me as much as this story, Leslie potrays a lot of things about youth that are still valid. The plot is vivid, Leslie's relationship with her mother is an honest representation of mom and daughter.

I would recomend this book to anyone, there are so much things you can get out of it! And its not at all preachy or moralist.

gets into the head of an ed
It's hard to explain to people without an eating disorder what craziness goes on in the mind of an eating disordered person. this book does it. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Easy to Enjoy
Although I never thought of myself as a fan of poetry or novels in verse, I have to admit this genre is growing on me.

When Kevin is forced to stay in bed for a month with mono, the prospect of missing out on baseballs games and hanging out with his friends does not excite him. But when he casually starts writing some words down on a page, and secretly borrows one of his writer father's poetry guides the exile starts to become more bearable. He slowly recovers, all the time writing about the death of his mother, past and present loves and his discovery of a whole new way of expressing himself.

If I had to describe this book in three words it would be 'short and sweet'. It's fun and cheerful (although I have to admit I didn't "get" the title until I was finished reading it). ... Read more

Book Description

"Life with Diabetes, Lacie the Lizard's Adventure" is an entertaining and informational book about Type I or Juvenile Diabetes.The book is intended to help children and their parents understand what to expect from diabetes and, more importantly, to understand they can live a normal, long life by taking proper care of themselves. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Life with Diabetes: Lacie the Lizard's Adventure
This is an excellent book for children who are diagnosed with Type I diabetes. It also gives parents a tool to help the diabetic child understand that they aren't so different and they can enjoy a long, happy and normal life if they take care of themselves.

Life with Diabetes: Lacie the Lizard's Adventure
Thank You! This helped us so much, words can't explain. We have read the book 12 times and we only got it a week ago. This has helped us with understanding and clarifying so many questions that we needed answered quickly. ... Read more

Book Description

A Book for Brothers & Sisters of Hospitalized Children.

Anna's little sister, Molly, has been very ill and had to have an operation. Anna tells us all about the experience from her point of view. Sensitive, insightful, heartwarming story. A support and comfort for siblings and those who love them. The story is moving and rings with authenticity, for author Debbie Duncan based it on her family's personal experiences. Artist Nina Ollikainen's beautiful black and white drawings are accurately detailed and capture the emotional atmosphere of Anna and Molly's tender relationship. (Ages 3 - 12)

Winner of 1995 Benjamin Franklin Award: Best Children's Picture Book ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Mom/Teacher Highly Recommends;Outshines all Others!
When our baby was suddenly and unexpectedly whisked off to the operating room, it was all my husband and I could do to retain our compsure and strength. Despite my extensive training and experience in early childhood, we had a hard time knowing where to begin with helping our three-year-old understand and cope. I knew from experience that books can be a great tool and came across this one and ordered it. What an amazing book!
Duncan tells of her baby's hospitalization through the eyes of an older sibling. It is filled with enough detail to be satisfying and at the same time is general enough that most everyone can find something to identify with. We found it to be a great starting point for meaningful and informative discussions with our three-year-old. It even brought up the issue of the sibling feeling he/she caused the illness in the sick child and the feelings of resentment that some siblings have toward critically ill brothers and sisters. We were also able to put to rest the fears that 'this will happen to me' in our preschooler and her friends. It is much more realistic and accurate than any other book on this subject that I have read.
Ollikainen's illustrations reinforce and support this touching, informational story. I felt that even our baby, at one year, could look at some of them and identify elements from his hospital stay. The illustrations are authentic, timeless, meaningful and so telling they could stand on their own.
I cannot say enough possitive things about this book. As an educator and as a parent I highly recommend it to families attempting to cope with ill children, preparing a child for hospitalization or as an informational resource for anyone in the elementary age range. No collection is complete without it! It truly sets the standard all others will have to live up to for me.

Superb illustrations accompany a story for siblings
This sensitive book describes the feelings of an older sibling and a family when a young child is hospitalized for a severe medical problem. It helps normalize the feelings that a sibling might have, and indicates that adults are available for support. The black and white drawings do a good job of being accurate, but still showing warmth and emotion.

This book is specifically aimed at children who are about four to eight years old. When one of my own children was hospitalized and had surgery, I thought of this book and brought it out for my other children.

This book tells the story of a young girl, whose baby sister is admitted into a hospital. The baby sister needs surgery, and the older girl is very unhappy. The older sister is initially angry at how Molly is getting all the attention. Later, she feels guilty and wonders if she somehow caused Molly's illness.

The author had a child who had a chronic condition and underwent surgery. She saw how her older children experienced the sibling's illness. The illustrator is a physician who left the clinical practice of medicine to pursue her artwork and to raise her own family. Her medical background may help account for the superb, sensitive illustrations.

Kind-hearted, intelligent, and such a delight.
The moving story of Molly's illness and her family's loving, worried response informs children about what a hospitalization means. What's more, it validates the feelings that come when a loved one needs help. Duncan beautifully evokes the atmosphere of a hospital -- not just the physical place but the environment of caring professionals, friends, and family members who work together to get someone better. For kids who've experienced hospitalizations (their own or others) or who are trying to imagine what things are like at the hospital (whether or not someone they love is in the hospital now), this book rings equally clear and true. Brava!

A great book!
I'm 11 years old, and when my sister was in the hospital my mom bought me this book. It was like reading my own story in a real book! Like Anna, the main character, I felt sad, jealous, worried, and even angry at my sister. This book helped me to understand that other kids felt the same way. I also enjoyed the happy ending!

Perfect for young siblings of hospitalized children
When Molly Was in the Hospital is wonderful! It is a touching story about a child who becomes ill, needs lots of tests and doctor visits, has surgery and a hospital stay. It is written from the sibling's point of view and addresses the sibling's many feelings including fear, guilt, anger, and joy as her sister recovers. It is rare to find something acknowleging the needs of siblings of disabled or sick children, and this book does it extremely well. It is written simply, but factually, and is very true to real hospital stays. The illistrations are gorgeous. An absolute MUST if you children and one is ever hospitalized. ... Read more